Functioning of Tanning Salons - Essay Example

Sana Osman English 3 December 2008 Tanning Salons A tan is a brown colour that the skin turns into by exposure to the sun. There are different ways of tanning your skin. Skin can be tanned naturally by exposure to the sun or artificially by going to a tanning salon. Skin tanning is done by exposing the skin to Ultraviolet radiations which changes the colour of the skin in to variant of brown. Artificial skin tanning is done in tanning salons. Tanning salons are very popular in the United States and Great Britain, as people like getting a tan the quick way. "An estimated 30 million North Americans turn to tanning salons as a controlled alternative to outdoor tanning. As we become increasingly aware of the benefits associated with regular exposure to sunlight and of the importance of managing the risks that can be associated with sunburn and overexposure, more people are turning to indoor tanning facilities to help attain their tans in a controlled environment scientifically designed to minimize the risk of sunburn." (Tanning Truth). Tanning is divided into two groups, indoor tanning and outdoor tanning. As the name suggests, indoor tanning is done indoors in a tanning salon using different artificial methods to tan your skin. Outdoor tanning is when you expose your skin to the sun where your skin tans by exposure to natural rays of the sun which contain Ultraviolet rays which tan your skin. Naturally tanning your skin by exposure in the sun takes time and requires a lot of patience. While a tanning salon is a fast and easy way of tanning your skin. Tanning salons use different ways of skin tanning. It is a known fact that Ultraviolet rays have many harmful effects, like causing skin cancer, skin wrinkles, and skin burns. Tanning salons therefore moderate the way your skin is tanned. For example, the amount of time you spend in a tanning salon on the different ways of tanning is monitored. Indoor tanning in a tanning salon is considered and also called Smart Tanning. Indoor tanning at a tanning salon is an intelligent way of maximizing pleasure and enjoyment of having a tan and reducing the risk of sunburns. It is called Smart Tanning because people who want to get a tan are taught by trained professional on how to avoid sunburns, indoors as well as outdoors. People are also taught on how their skin reacts to sunlight. It is safe to opt for tanning in a professional tanning salon today because the government regulates indoor tanning in Canada and the United States. In the United States of America, the exposure time for every tanning session is established by a schedule which is present on every piece of equipment, this takes the tanners skin type and the machines intensity to deliver sunlight, which is designed to minimize the risk of sunburns. This kind of controlled tanning is impossible in natural sunlight, where seasonality, weather conditions, altitude and time of the day make outdoor tanning very random and prevention of sunburns difficult. Studies have shown that people who opt for indoor tanning at a tanning salon are less like to harm their skin through tanning than people who opt for outdoor tanning. Tanning salons also teach their customer how to avoid sunburns and protect their skin when exposed to natural sunlight outdoors. It is important to know that while tanning, like in all other things you do in life, it is best to go the moderate way, so you can protect your body from any harmful affects of tanning in natural sunlight or at a tanning salon. There are different ways in which you can tan your skin artificially in a tanning salon. Tanning salons have different methods like, a tan booth, the famous tanning bed, tanning lotions and oils, tanning goggles, tanning pills, and sunless tanning. All these methods require professional guidance from a tanning salon. The most famous and popular way of tanning your skin at a tanning salon is the tanning bed. Tanning beds are light fittings that you lie down on to get your tan. These light emit Ultraviolet rays which tan the skin. You can moderate your tan using a tanning bed. When using a tanning bed an individual you have to limit your exposure time as it can get harmful since the radiation levels a quite high. The other, most effective way to get a great tan at a tanning salon is a tanning booth. Tanning booths are not as famous as tanning beds. One of the benefits of a tanning booth is that it is more cost effective to the salon owner and also it does not occupy too much space and some booths come with a dressing room. Many people prefer tanning booths as you are standing in a tanning booth while getting your tan and it is very hygienic. For people who are concerned about the Ultraviolet radiations during a tan, in a tanning booth or on a tanning bed, the best option is professional sunless tanning. There are many tanning salons that offer professional services of artificially applying a tan. Sunless tanning includes airbrush tan, where you stand in a booth in different positions and a spray of a tint comes out of the walls colouring your skin. Some other ways of sunless tanning are lotions, oils and creams. Tanning oils are typically suggested to people who already have a base tan, as oils tend to darken and deepen an existing tan and not create a new one. The FDA has ordered that all tanning salons to provide its clients with tanning goggles. As the effects of artificial tanning in a tanning booth or on a tanning bed, with the help of Ultraviolet rays, includes harming the eyes. Tanning goggles come in different styles, from big and bulky ones to goggle-stickers which only cover your eyes and can be easily removed. Tanning salons claim that indoor tanning at a salon has health benefits. It is said that indoor tanning can help produce vitamin D in the skin with the help of Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B rays. Indoor tanning salons also claim to help against sun damage and premature aging by helping the skin build protection against sunburns. Many tanning salons believe that radiation through tanning bulbs used in tanning beds is less harmful than natural sunlight. It is also claimed that tanning beds are safe as they do not produce harmful Ultraviolet C rays. Some indoor tanning salons also believe that indoor tanning helps favourable for skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. Tanning is also considered effective in treating SAD or Seasonal Effective Disorder, where people suffer from depression due to the lack of sunlight during winter. Another benefit of going to a tanning salon is that people have control on the amount they want to get tanned. Though the indoor tanning industry claims that indoor tanning salons are safe and also have health benefits many studies have shown that the indoor tanning can also be harmful. One the biggest and most publicised risks of indoor tanning in developing skin cancer. Tanning beds and tanning booths also harm the eyes, it increasing the risk of cataract and cancer of the retina. The use of tanning facilities in tanning salons is also said to reduce elasticity in skin causing the skin to become saggy. It also increases the possibilities of wrinkles in areas where the skin is sensitive. Some teens do not seem concerned about the aging factor while opting for an indoor tan, however, it is believed that frequenting tanning salons can cause aging in the mid-twenties. There many tanning salons across the United States and other Western countries. The specification and regulations of each tanning salon are specific to the owner. However, the end results are the same, clients are guaranteed a great, glowing tan. Tanning salons offer several different options to tan your skin. From tanning beds to tanning booths, from airbrush tans to professional tanning lotions there is a variety of options to choose from. One thing to remember is the mantra of tanning salons that everything should be done in moderation. Works Cited Indoor Tanning: Smart Tan, www.tanningtruth.com, http://www.tanningtruth.com/index.php/indoor_tanning/ Read More